Toy top



June 18, 1963 A. E. WRIGHT 3,093,926

TOY TOP Filed March 27, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,093,926 ToY TOP Arnold E. Wright, 5140 Wellington Ave., Chicago, 111. Filed Mar. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 802,431 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-60) This invention relates generally to toy tops and more particularly to toy tops which may be combined to form a diploconical structure for playing diabolo.

A traditional form of play for pre-adolescen-t children is spinning tops. For the younger children, the tops are frequently arranged to be manipulated by means of a spiraled plunger which extends axially and upwardly through the top. For the older, more dexterious children, the tops are conventionally arranged to be manipulated or spun by means of a separate string or cord which is wrapped about the surface of the top. Tops of both these types are intended to be spun on the ground or some other flat, relatively smooth surface.

A variant of this type of play has been devised, utilizing special tops of diploconical or dumbbell-like structure. These special tops are intended to be spun primarily in the air, manipulation being achieved by means of a string or cord extending between the ends of two short rods which are held one in each hand or by means of a string or cord which is held directly in the hands. The game played with these special tops is known as diabolo.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide toy tops which may be readily converted to the special, diploconical top used in the game of diabolo.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved structure for toy tops.

Still further objects and features of the invention perta-in to the particular structure and arrangements whereby the above objects are attained.

The structure in accordance with the invention includes a first conical body member, a toy top point structure selectively secured to the body member and a diabolo-de vice-forming assembly including a second conical body member which is adapted to be secured alternatively and selectively to the first body member apex to apex.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy top in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged view through the section 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of elements which may be employed to form the toy top point structure used in the top of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows an elevational, partial sectional view of a different embodiment of the toy top structure of the inven-tion;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing two of the tops of the inventtion joined to form a special top which may be used in playing diabolo;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view through the section 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a union element which may be used to form the special top shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the double end stud bolt used in the union element of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of elements which may be employed in forming the toy top point structure; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational, cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment of the toy top structure of the invention, an embodiment which is particularly suitable for construction from a plastic material.

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Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, there will be seen a toy top 20 including a generally conical body member 22 and a top point structure 24. Body member 22 may advantageously be provided with a number of circumferential grooves 26 spaced at uniform intervals above the point structure 24. These grooves act as guides for Wrapping the: operating string about the top.

Body member 22 may be conveniently fashioned from wood and has an internally threaded sleeve 28 securely fixed in the bore 30, as by a pressed fit. The point structure 24, comprised of a male tip 32 and a stud 34 integrally afiixed to the tip 32, may be secured to the body member 22 as by stud 34 engaging the threaded sleeve 28. Point structure 24 and sleeve 28 may be fabricated from metal or from plastic as is desired.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 9, a top point structure 24a is shown to include a female tip 32a internally threaded to receive the stud 34a. Thus, the point structure may include a tip integrally secured to a stud, or it may include a separate tip and stud.

The top hereinabove described may be played with in the usual manner, being spun by means of a separate string which may be wrapped therearound. However, when is desired to play diabolo, the point structure 24 may be removed from the body member 22 my unscrewing; and subsequently, another like body member 42 may be joined thereto in order to form the special top 44 which is shown in FIG. 5. The special top 44 may be spun in the air as previously described, the converging tapers of the body members 22 and 42 directing the manipulating string to the plane of intersection of the conic figures.

Body member 22 is joined to the body element 42 by means of a union element 46 which includes a washer 48 land a double end stud bolt 50 which is preferably oppositely threaded in order to prevent spinning of the top 44 from separating the body members 22 and 42.. Accordingly, the sleeve 28 which is pressed into the body member 22 is adapted to receive a right hand threaded stud whereas the sleeve 52 which is pressed into the body element 42 is adapted to receive a lefit hland threaded stud. It is realized, of course, that opposite threading of stud bolt 50 is not absolutely necessary since, using a uniformly right hand threaded stud, satisfactory engagement of body member 22 and body member 42 may be achieved by firmly twisting one body member against the other.

Thus, it becomes apparent that the present invention provides a toy top which may be played with in the more-or-less conventional manner while ,at the same time it provides a toy top which may be readily converted to a special top which may be used in playing diabolo.

Turning now to FIG. 10, there will be seen a toy top 60 including a body member 62 having a cavity 64 fashioned in the upper end thereof. This cavity is particularly useful in lowering the center of gnavity \of the top 60 whereby successful spinning of the top is facili tated. Cavity 64 may be conveniently provided in the body member 62 by molding the body member 62 firom a suitable plastic material. When so formed, body member 62 may be directly tapped to receive the stud 34b of point structure 24b.

Advantageously, the tip 32b may be provided with a shoulder 66 which serves to prevent the operating string from sliding off the body member 62.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made; and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claim any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed :as follows:

A toy top adapted for conversion between a diabolo and a pointed spinning top; and comprising a pair of conical bodies each having an elongated threaded bore extending axially from the apex thereof and terminating short of the opposite end thereof with said bores being oppositely threaded, and an elongated stud oppositely threaded at opposite ends thereof for cooperative threaded engagement with the respective threaded bores of said conical bodies to facilitate the securing together of the conical bodies with the rapices thereof in adjacency forming a diabolo and resisting sepanation of the bodies while spinning; and said stud being th-readedly releasable from said bores to permit separation of the conical bodies and UNITED STATES. PATENTS 867,373 Hoen Oct. 1, 1907 901,037 Philippart Oct. 13, 1908 1,193,991 C-igol Aug. 8, 1916 10 2,030,302 Jones Feb. 11, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 576 Great Britain 1890 601,531 Germany Aug. 17, 1934 

